My Mother Invented the Plastic Kite

Growing Up Late · Jun 11, 2026 · 17m

Episode 10: My Mother Invented the Plastic Kite

My mother used to say, "I'm not an inventor."

Which was interesting, because I'm pretty sure she invented the plastic kite.

Or at least she had the idea.

In this episode, I revisit three stories from my childhood: a kite, a fireplace, and a trip to the beach, and what they revealed about permission, self-concept, and the gap between having an idea and acting on it.

My mother was one of the strongest women I've ever known. Widowed young, she bought a home, raised two children, and built a life at a time when women weren't always expected to do…